Pte 29712 Frederick Davis

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.14

Frederick William Davis was born in 1896 in Liverpool, one of two sons of William Davis, a coach maker, and his wife Elizabeth Ada (nee Barrow), whom he married in 1890. 

In  the 1901 Census the family are living at 6 Lissant Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. His father William Davis is a 37 year old carriage maker, born in Birkenhead, his mother Ada Davis  is 34 years of age and was born in Widnes. Also present is his widowed grandmother Elizabeth Davis who is 60 years old and was born in Ireland. There are five children in the household; Leonora Davis 10 b.Birkenhead, Valentine Davis 7 b.Birkenhead, Frederick Davis 4 b.Liverpool, Dorothy Davis 2 b.Liverpool, Joseph Davis 3 months  b.Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family is living at 178 Upper Huskisson Street, Liverpool. His father William Davis is now a 47 year old coachmaker, mother Elizabeth Ada Davis is 44. They have been married for twenty one years and have had eight children, one of whom has died. Still living with the family is grandmother Elizabeth Davis now aged 70 and who is declared to have been blind for five years. Their seven surviving children are listed as; Leonora Davis 20 domestic servant, Valentine Davis 17 van lad, Frederick Davis 14 van lad, Dorothy Davis 12, Joseph Davis 10, Helena Davis 6, Alice Davis 3. 

Fred enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 29712.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on 26^th January 1916 aged 19 years.

Graham Maddocks in his book Liverpool Pals describes how during that evening the 20^th Battalion relieving the 2^nd Bedfords in the front line near Maricourt was subject to a severe German bombardment which killed nine other ranks, fatally wounded 2^nd Lieutenant William Hall Jowett who died 2 days later, and wounded 3 other officers and 47 men. Frederick was amongst the 9 men of the 20th Battalion  killed, the others being Privates W.H.Aitken, J.Askew, M.W. Bennett, W. Bowden, J. Colligan, A. Howell, P. Prince and P. Simmons. 

All of these men now rest at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 11th July 1916:

News has been received of the death in action of Private Fred Davies (sic) of the Liverpool Pals. He was 19 years of age and resided at 178 Upper Huskisson Street, Liverpool.

Also on the first anniversary of his death In Memoriam notices were placed by his family in the Liverpool Daily Post dated 26th June 1917

– DAVIS – In loving memory of Private Federick Davis   178 Huskisson Street, Liverpool, killed in action June 26 1916 age 19 years R.I.P. (Deeply Regretted) His loving Mother and Father.

DAVIS – In loving memory of our dear brother Fred (KLR) who was killed in action in France June 26 1916 (Never forgotten by his sisters Nora and Dolly)

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Ada.

Fred is also is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 6.

We currently have no further information on Frederick William Davis. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.